Cyprus MP Irene Charalambides has reignited her criticism of the minister of education over the controversial leasing of school land for the creation of padel courts. Charalambides claims that the government is turning public land, meant for educational purposes, into a profitable venture for private investors, accusing the minister of ignorance on the matter and blaming the Limassol school board for allowing the deal to proceed.

In a Facebook post, Charalambides referred to the existing legislation, specifically the 1997 school board law, which stipulates that no school property can be leased or sold without the approval of the council of ministers. She also highlighted that the law on expropriated land forbids any change in its use unless it serves the public interest, a standard she argues is not being met in this case.

“The fact that the ministry of education has given the green light to such a project is concerning,” Charalambides said, pointing out that the auditor general’s office had previously raised questions about the approval process. 

The minister, however, only provided a written response claiming that the approval was granted by the Limassol school board, which led to further questions from the auditor-general and, ultimately, the minister’s suspension by the Supreme constitutional court.

Charalambides also claimed to have video evidence of padel courts being used during school hours, a violation of the supposed agreement that these facilities would not disrupt the schools’ activities. The videos show vehicles parked in a designated school parking area, which she says should be reserved for students, while children are left with limited space to play. 

“There are serious concerns regarding the safety of students and the respect for the agreed-upon rules. This situation would not have occurred if the minister had done her job properly and visited the schools,” Charalambides added. 

She described the schoolyard as unsuitable, with young children forced to play near busy roads and exposed to car exhaust fumes, highlighting the failure of the authorities to properly assess the situation.

In response to the criticism, the ministry of education visited the affected schools in Limassol, although the visit was kept low-profile and was not attended by any other officials. A ministry source confirmed that the school board had been instructed to ensure that the terms of the 2019 agreement are upheld, without any deviations.

Meanwhile, the Limassol school board defended the arrangement, insisting that the leasing process followed all legal procedures. According to a statement, public tenders were issued for the padel court project, which used the BOT (build, operate, transfer) method, and were approved by the ministry of education. The school board emphasised that the land lease had been done legally and that the project was designed to bring investment to the schools while ensuring minimal disruption.

However, Charalambides remains unconvinced, arguing that the ministry must take full responsibility for the actions of the Limassol school board, as it was their approval that made the deal possible.

She concluded with a stern message, saying, “If the minister had done her due diligence, she would have seen the same issues we did.”

The dispute has raised questions about the transparency and accountability of the process, with many asking whether the educational needs of students were given adequate priority over financial interests. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and whether the ministry of education will take action to address the concerns raised.